The victim, identified as Benjamin Ramirez of Escondido, was walking on Bear Valley Parkway near Boyle Avenue about 10:15 p.m. when he was struck by a white box truck, California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt said.

Witnesses said the driver in the truck slowed down for a moment and then drove away.

Ramirez was taken to Palomar Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 10:44 p.m., officials with the Medical Examiner’s Office said.

He was headed home from work, at an Albertsons on East Valley Parkway, and was not far from home when he was hit, Bettencourt said.

The vehicle was described as a medium size “U-Haul style,” truck that made a loud, rattling sound. It should have damage to the front left side, Bettencourt said.